When Garret went after Adam, he was unable to catch the teenager within the hospital. He was just stepping off the elevator when he spied the boy exiting through the front entrance. Chasing after Adam, Garret cursed to himself when he watched Alex’s son drive away. Pulling his car keys from his pocket, Garret was glad Alexandra had insisted they each drive their own vehicle to the hospital. Hurrying to his Jeep, Garret was determined to track down Adam.
He found him at the high school sitting alone in the football bleachers. It was late afternoon, and the school grounds were empty. Adam didn’t hear Garret’s approach, but he didn’t appear to be startled when the man sat beside him on the bleacher.
“What do you want?” Adam asked, staring ahead, refusing to look at Garret.
“Your mother was worried about you,” Garret said quietly. “But she didn’t want to leave Kimmy alone.”
“She doesn’t care,” Adam accused bitterly.
“You know that’s not true. Your mother loves you.”
“What do you know?” Adam leaned forward, brought his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms about his legs. Leaning his forehead against his knees, he closed his eyes. “Why did everything have to change?” Adam asked aloud, speaking more to himself than to the man at his side.
Garret knew Adam was referring to his parents and not the situation with Kimmy.
Adam felt like a little boy again—a lost little boy. He wasn’t ready for the responsibilities of fatherhood. He knew that the instant Kimmy told him about the pregnancy. However terrified, he had refused to share his fears with Alexandra. She’d already disappointed him, shattered the image he’d always had of his parents, his home, his life. Was it all lies?
“Adam…”
“I want to know something, Garret,” Adam interrupted, his voice hoarse. “If my mother loves you, why didn’t she leave Dad for you? Didn’t you want her?” He still refused to look at Garret.
“I would’ve taken your mother in a heartbeat,” Garret answered.
“Then why didn’t she leave? Did she stay with Dad because of me?”
“No, Adam. Although you were a consideration, I don’t think she stayed with your father because of you.”
“Then why?”
“Your mother loved your father.” The words were hard for Garret to say, but he knew they were the truth.
“Why would she have an affair with you if she loved my father? If she loved me?”
“Adam, I believe your mother also loved me. Sometimes things happen that we can’t control. Didn’t you learn that when Kimmy became pregnant? I can’t imagine you meant for her to become pregnant, but she did.”
“That’s not the same thing,” Adam argued. “I’m talking about my mother. My mother.”
“Adam, if Kimmy hadn’t lost the baby, she’d be someone’s mother. Would that make her any less susceptible to human temptations and weaknesses?”
“But she didn’t want this baby. Her own grandchild. She’s probably happy now.”
“Maybe she wasn’t thrilled about the pregnancy, but she was going to stand by you. Help you raise the child if she needed to. She would have loved her grandchild. But did you honestly expect her to be happy with the situation? Isn’t that asking too much?”
Adam didn’t answer Garret.
“Were you delighted? Did you honestly want to be a father right now? Maybe what you’re feeling is your own guilt. Guilt because you’ve lost the baby that you really didn’t want. Maybe you’re the one who’s relieved.”
“You think I’m happy Kimmy lost our baby?” Adam asked angrily.
“No, I don’t think you’re happy. I do believe that somewhere deep inside you’re experiencing a sense of relief. And rather than dealing with that emotion, you’re blaming your mother. This isn’t your mother’s problem to sort out. It’s yours.”
“Would you really have stuck around if Mom was helping raise my child?”
“I love your mother, Adam. I couldn’t have her ten years ago. She belonged to your father and to you. I was forced to accept that fact. Believe it or not, I wasn’t happy when I heard your father died. How could I be happy when the woman I loved lost someone she loved? When a son lost a father? I don’t expect you to think much of me.
“Honestly, I seduced your mother over ten years ago. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s the truth. She was innocent, vulnerable, and had no idea of how dangerous our friendship was. I knew. And I took unfair advantage of the situation. In the end, I paid for it. I was the one who lived alone for ten years, missing the woman I loved while she was living with a husband that she loved.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I want you to stop being angry with her. Stop punishing her. We all make mistakes, Adam.”